My Next Project

Burlkraft · December 22, 2009, 08:33:48 AM

I am always up for a life challenging project, so this is my next one........

.

It's the end of a really nice Big Leaf Maple burl log that I had.

If it works like I plan it will be a nice piece. ;D ;D ;D

If it doesn't it'll just be another in a long line of failed projects :

:

Norm · December 22, 2009, 08:50:21 AM

Holy cow Steve that's one big burl! Might be time to invest in a flack jacket.

submarinesailor · December 22, 2009, 08:58:02 AM

I bet you start off real slow because balancing that thing is going to be a bitch. Remembers me of a fan in a steel plant I tried to balance one time – it was very, very dirty. Be very careful as you bring it up to speed.

Bruce

metalspinner · December 22, 2009, 09:45:39 AM

Where's the big one??? :D

How deep into the log section do you figure the figure goes?

What is it gonna be?

Are you gonna shoot a bit of video for us to watch? What about a live feed? ;D

Burlkraft · December 22, 2009, 09:51:33 AM

Quote from: metalspinner on December 22, 2009, 09:45:39 AM

Are you gonna shoot a bit of video for us to watch? What about a live feed? ;D

:D :D :D :D You guy's are lucky I can get some pictures in here now and then :D :D :D

I wouldn't know where to begin to even start a live feed :

:

I will try to get some pictures tho...

It's gonna be a big bowl. The figure stops at the log. I was really surprised but the figure ends at the burl and the log is pretty much straight grained. That branch stem is gonna be a challenge. I might start turnin' it this afternoon.

I'll keep ya posted ;D

Raider · December 22, 2009, 10:07:11 AM

Steve- Great piece of wood

Stay safe! Raider

woodsteach · December 22, 2009, 12:35:08 PM

Burlkraft,

I can't even wrap my head around how to start something like that!! Of course that lathe looks just a little heavier than my delta. Good luck and keep us posted.

woodsteach

Gary_C · December 22, 2009, 12:50:41 PM

Wow Steve! That looks like it will be fun. :

You gonna wear a hard hat too?

If that works out, I've got some even bigger ones. :D :D

pigman · December 22, 2009, 12:54:05 PM

Get the video rolling and crank that lathe up to 2000 rpm so we can see the One-Way dance across the floor. ;D

fiddle1 · December 22, 2009, 12:59:37 PM

what a project! im sure it'll be fine.
burls are just amazing!

way to go!

getting chucked and centerered must have been fun.
;)

Burlkraft · December 22, 2009, 03:39:08 PM

Quote from: pigman on December 22, 2009, 12:54:05 PM
Get the video rolling and crank that lathe up to 2000 rpm so we can see the One-Way dance across the floor. ;D

It's bolted down ;D ;D ;D

Larry · December 22, 2009, 04:24:01 PM

Hope you used really big bolts!

I'm far to big of a scarity cat to even contemplate turning something like that. ???

Dodgy Loner · December 22, 2009, 05:28:13 PM

Shouldn't be too tough to get it balanced. Just tedious. I'm assuming you have electronic continuously-variable speed adjustment that will allow you to start at 0 RPM and slowly increase it as needed. My lathe has geared continuously-variable speed control that bottoms out at 450 RPM. So it would be a no-go on my machine ;D

beenthere · December 22, 2009, 05:56:46 PM

Bolted down eh?

So's then the shop starts dancin round the yard in the new snow. ;D ;D

Reddog · December 22, 2009, 06:02:10 PM

It will be neat to see what is inside.

As for failed projects, you can always make a smaller bowl ;)

Reddog · December 22, 2009, 06:03:11 PM

Quote from: beenthere on December 22, 2009, 05:56:46 PM
Bolted down eh?

So's then the shop starts dancin round the yard in the new snow. ;D ;D

At least the retaining wall will keep it away form the house. :D

Burlkraft · December 22, 2009, 08:36:31 PM

This is what happened today..........

I had to make it so it would go around, so I cut off the high spots with the saw

Next is to get a tennon cut ASAP and get it in a chuck, but it was not as unbalanced as I thought.
I was able to round up the bottom and make it even look like a bowl...a little bit anyway ;D

This is the shape we ended up with. I'll put a jaw chuck on the lathe and turn the burl around.

I'll start hollowing from this end, tomorrow ;D

SwampDonkey · December 22, 2009, 08:39:18 PM

"We're gonna need a bigger ~~boat~~ lathe. :D I haven't a lathe big enough for that sucker, but it's bolted down and has variable speed up to 2000 rpm. Mom has a burl coffee table from yellow birch that is almost 3 feet in diameter. ;D

I took a picture awhile back of a huge birch burl sitting on a 6 foot wide pallet. I saw one just as big, deep in the bush and I think they cut it for one of the guys at the camp. Hauled it out by machine. Them things are heavy. :D

Looking good Steve.